What the BOC-3 is
Form BOC-3, "Designation of Agent for Service of Process", lists the people who can receive legal papers for your company in each state you need. Only one completed form can be on file, it must cover every state you need, and you keep a copy at your principal place of business (49 CFR 366.2T). Each process agent must live in, or keep an office in, the state they're named for (366.3T).
Who needs one
FMCSA's own description is plain: each carrier, broker and freight forwarder "must hire a BOC-3 agent to represent them in legal matters to obtain operating authority" (FMCSA BOC-3 data). In practice, if you need an MC or FF number, you need a BOC-3. Which states it must cover depends on what you do (49 CFR 366.4T):
| You are | Process agents needed in |
|---|---|
| Motor carrier (property or passengers) | Every state you're authorized to operate in, and every state you pass through |
| Broker | Every state where you have an office or write contracts |
| Carrier operating only in Alaska or Hawaii | That state (FMCSA) |
| Any carrier, including private carriers, crossing the US between points in another country | Every state traversed |
Most carriers don't name agents state by state. They use a blanket agent: a company that has filed agents for every state with FMCSA, so one designation covers everywhere (49 CFR 366.5T). FMCSA keeps a list of process agents.
Who can file it
- Carriers: only a process agent can file the BOC-3 for you (FMCSA). You hire the agent; they file.
- Brokers and freight forwarders without trucks: you can file your own.
FMCSA notes that many commercial firms arrange process agents in every state for a fee (FMCSA FAQ). Prices vary between companies, so compare before you pick one.
Keeping it current
- It doesn't expire. There's no renewal in the rule; your designation stays on file until a new one replaces it (49 CFR 366.6T).
- To change agents, file a new BOC-3. A designation can be changed only by a new designation.
- If you stop operating, a designation you no longer need for a year can be cancelled without filing a new one.
Watch for "renew your BOC-3" letters. The rule has no renewal. A process agent company may bill you yearly for its own service, which is a matter between you and that company, but a message saying FMCSA requires you to renew your BOC-3 is a warning sign. See how to spot filing scams.
How to check yours is on file
Ask your process agent for confirmation when they file. FMCSA also publishes BOC-3 filings in its public data; new filings can take a few days to appear there.
Every carrier on an MCS-150 Update plan shows its BOC-3 status from that data, next to operating authority and insurance, along with MCS-150, UCR, IFTA, Form 2290 and IRP deadlines. We email you if it changes.
Questions
Does a BOC-3 expire?
No. Part 366 has no renewal requirement: a designation stays on file until you replace it with a new one (49 CFR 366.6T). Some process agent companies charge a yearly fee for their service; that's a contract between you and them, not an FMCSA renewal.
Can I file my own BOC-3?
A carrier can't: FMCSA says only a process agent can file the BOC-3 on a carrier's behalf. A broker or freight forwarder with no commercial motor vehicles can file its own (FMCSA).
Do I need a BOC-3 if I only operate in my own state?
The BOC-3 goes with interstate operating authority (an MC or FF number). A carrier that runs only intrastate and holds no operating authority doesn't file one.
What is a blanket agent?
A company that has filed a list of process agents covering every state with FMCSA. Naming a blanket agent on your BOC-3 covers all the states you need in one designation (49 CFR 366.5T).
How do I change my process agent?
File a new BOC-3. Only one current form can be on file, and a designation can be changed only by a new one (49 CFR 366.2T and 366.6T).
Sources
- 49 CFR part 366, Designation of process agent (sections 366.1T to 366.6T in force; eCFR current to September 28, 2026)
- FMCSA: Form BOC-3, Designation of Agents for Service of Process (updated July 16, 2026)
- FMCSA: How do I find a BOC-3 process agent and what do they do?
- FMCSA: Motus BOC3, All With History (data.transportation.gov)
Last reviewed September 30, 2026.